Bast fiber preparation



ly 16, 1940- R. B. cocHRANE BAST FIBER PREPARATION Filed Feb. 11. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 uly 16, 9 R. a. COCHRANE BAST FIBER PREPARATION File d Feb.'11. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lina ans nu |||||l n n. vwlllllllllllll.

July 16, 1940. R. B. GOCHRANE 'BAST FIBER PREPARATION Filed Feb. 11, 1936 :s Sheets-Sheet s Patented July 16, '1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAST 'rnmn PREPARATION Robert B. Cochrane, Baltimore,

direct and mesne assignmen Linen, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a

Maryland Md., asslgnoqby ts, to Fla: and corporation of Application February 11, 1936, Serial No. 63,415 6 Claims. (Cl. 19-5) greatly improved apparatus for economically carrying the process into efiect.

Among the more specific objects of my invention is the provision of means for liberating the fiber more rapidly and effectively 'and for eliminating more completely the shive or woody'material and the gums and waxes of which the straw is composed. Although applicable to the treatment of a wide variety of fiber yielding plants, the invention is particularly adapted for the preparation of flax fiber for the manufacture of either textiles or paper.

It is well known in the art that the stalks or straw of the fiax and similar plants are composed essentially of a central portion or core of woody material and an outer layer of longitudinally extending fibers united by certain gums and pectic matters. The traditional method of liberating the fibers from the woody core and from the adherent gums, and indeed the one most widely employed today-in supplying fiber for the textile and linen paper industry, comprises retting or steeping the stalks or straw by submergence in water, then, scutching the subsequently dried stalks by means of hand fiails or mechanically rotated beater blades, and then hackling or combin the fiber.

The isadvantages ofthese ancient processes are very apparent. Among the more obvious of them may be cited theextremely long time consumed- -especially in the letting process which th in some countries is allowed to proceed for several months-the danger of rotting and weakening the fiber by unduly prolonging the retting, the general uncleanliness of the procesaand'the breaking of the fibers by the rather violent scutching and hackling operations. Several proposals have been made having as their, object the improvement of'the scutching step and also the elimination of the retting phase, ut none of these attempts to properly prepare he fiber by mechanically dry dedorticating and degumming processes has proved practical and economical. These prior endeavors have failed tov completely remove the shive and, due to the comparatively harsh mechanical treatments, employing combs, scrapers, or the like, the long fibers have been broken and weakened and thus renderedunfit for textile use. In such devices, also,

the fiber tends to wind upon the various rotating ,ing the strength of Itis therefore another object of the present contemplates the provision eliminating moisture members 'and clog the machine. In many cases the use of strong chemicals, mainly of an alkaline nature, has been resorted to in order to further decorticate and degum the material and this expedient has resulted in seriously impairthe fibers.

invention to provide an apparatus of simple construction and mode of operation, whereby the straw comprising the bast fibers oi the kind described may be subjected to a series of successive comparatively gentle operations which will effectively liberate the fiber, completely eliminate the shive and get rid of such portion of the gummy matter which may be necessary for the particular purpose for which the fiber is to be used.

The successful development of my invention has opened up a very wide field for supplying an exceedingly strong and clean (shive-free) flax fiber for textile use at a great saving in cost over the prevalent hand scutching and hackling methods-and also makes possible the use as raw material of the coarser-fibered straw obtained from flax which is grown for seed, this material being as completely decorticated and degummed in my apparatus as the finer fiber-flax straw.

Another new field of usefulness of the invention is'found in the preparation oi practically 100% shive-free fiber for use in the manufacture offine linen paper where exception l strength and quality are needed, as in the case of the preparation of condenser dielectric paper or carbon paper, or where great purity and peculiar properties are required as in the manufacture of cigarette paper. The present supply for these uses is the relatively expensive linen rag stock.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention of a succession of superposed alternating pairs of horizontal fluted breaker rolls and squared beater rolls, all of relatively small diameter and so operated that the of movement of the material betweenthe rolls is in an upward direction. Devices are also provided in the apparatus for performing certain preliminary operations on the straw such as deseedin'g' and topping, feeding, straightening, crushing, pressing, etc. as well as a drier for from the fiber and embrittling the gummy material therein, and also certain folding and delivery mechanisms for operating upon the lap of cleaned fiber as it passes from the machine; Novel driving mechanism is also provided whereby power is applied from a suitablesource for rotating the numerous rolls and driving the conveyors and other elements at relatively high speeds controlled in accordance with their proper individual functions, their sequence of operation throughout the machine, and their relation to each other.

There are also provided suitable conveying or material handling devices for transferring the straw and fiber from one operating portion to .the other, and other mechanism and attachments which cooperate to render the installation a unitary instrumentality for continuously and successively operating upon the material at relatively great speeds to accomplish the described functions. u

Other objects of the invention include the provision of novel methods'and apparatus wherein the operations set forth may be performed on in a mill or other permanent either long or short straw, without loss of fiber and without producing tow or noils. Means are also provided for preventing the separated shive being carried along with the web or lap of fiber and the apparatus is also adapted to gradually draw out or attenuatethe lap as it passes from one operative element to another of the machine, this effect being capable of regulation in accordance with the requirements of the material being treated.

Other objectsv and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of my invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings: t

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of an installation em dying the principles of my invention; part of the device being broken away in order to disclose certain interior mechanisms and others being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same installation;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the decorticating units of the apparatus, part of the device being illustrated in vertical cross section;

Figure 4 is a plan view in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in front elevation of a portion of the device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the view being taken substantially on linev 5-5 of Figure 3 Figured is an enlarged view of certain of the rotary operating members of the device, illustrated partly in vertical'longitudinal cross section and partly in perspective;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view invertical cross section showing an alternative form of delivery mechanism pplicable to certain of the operatinglunits;

Figure 8 is a view in horizontal crosssection of a portable fiber liberating apparatus designed to be drawn across a field and to collect the straw from windrows left by a thresher or the like; and

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view of the apparatus illustratedin Figure 8.

The exemplaryinstallation illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawi gs. is adapted for use structure and comprises essentially the following units which are arranged to operate upon the straw and fiber lap in the named order: the feedin'g conveyor A; the deheader and topper B; the orienting conveyor C for changing the position of the straws from of the device illustrated transverse to longitudinal; the decorticating unit tudinal and transverse D; the drier E, w h may be eliminated in and or moderate clima the further decortioating and degumming units F and G; and the longifoldingand packing units it and x. I

The flax straw or other fibrous stalks is placed uponthe feeder A which may be a belt conveyor .13 or conventional type, so that the stalks are advanced toward the deseeding and topping or deheading unit B transversely of their length. The deseeding unit B and the aligning or orienting conveyor 0 may conveniently be mounted upon a bench or support ll. Joumalled upon the bench II in any suitable manner are sprockets l2 about which pass the lower conveyor'chain l3 which is adapted to cooperate with the upper chain l4 similarly carried by the sprockets ill to seize the mid-portions of the advancing straws and to transport them past the pair of rotary members I8 which are adapted to operate upon the head ends of the stalks. The members l8 may be of any suitable type as, for example, slatted drums which are disposed obliquely to the direction of passage of the straw so as to receive the headed ends of the stalks between them and scrape and pull the seeds, seed bolls, and branches from the main useful fiber bearingportions of the stalks.

The stalks as they pass from the deseeding drums l8 are moved into the orienting conveyor 0 by means of the chains l3 and M; the projecting frayed and deheaded ends of the stalks coming in contact with the rapidly movin conveyor belt 20 disposed edgewise to the supporting table II and guided around the vertically disposed pulley or roller 2!. This belt 20 is also guided by means of'the pulleys 22 and 23 and is adapted to cooperate with the mating belt 24 which is guided by means of the pulleys 26,26 and 21, any or all of which may bedriven by any suitable means. The belts 20 and 24 move in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 of the drawings. The ends of the stalks are contacted by the belt 23 as it passes around the pulley 2i and are successively brushed into the space between the belts 20 and 24 and-into contact with the transversely moving portion of the beltllindicated at so. Thus the straws or stalks are successively seized between the two belts, pass'between the parallel rijgis'thereof and are delivered at any desired rateof speed 'upon the conveyor belt 32 which feeds the first unit D of the decorticating and degumming apparatus.

The conveyor 32 is preferably provided with side walls 33 forming a trough through which the straw is passed longitudinally. In order to commet the mass of straw being fed to the decortiating machine and to make sure that it is properly fed to the initial crushing or flattening roll- 32' preferably at the point where it is tangent to its pulley 33 and may have its surface roughened to better lay any upwardly projecting ends of theoncoming stalks.

Suitably iournalled in the heme as are the successive pairs of crusher or flattening rolls- 43. Two cooperating pairs are shown in the illustrated installation, but it is obvious that -more may' beemployed if I foimd desirable.,

These rolls may be plauhslu-iaced, but are preferabiy provided with she lowfiutes or are roughenedtosome degreesoastoensufethattheoncoming ends of the straws are properly seized and fed between the rolls. These rolls perform the function of flattening theotherwise substantially cylindrical stalks, whereby during subsequent bending operations the outermost fibers on the opposite sides of the stalks will not snap orbreak. Thesocrusher rolisareadaptedtobe iii) bers t and 51 driven by suitable mechanisms which will ently be described.

' From the crusher rolls 40 the web of fiattened stalks is carried by means of the conveyor belt 42 to the decorticating mechanism of the first unit D. This conveyor belt 42 passes around the rollers 43, -44 and 45. In this the roller 44 is preferably a driven roller and rollers 43 and 65 are idlers. The conveyor belt 42 is arranged in an angular formation with an upwardly inclined delivery portion, the bite of the conveyor belt being guided by means of the cooperating conveyor 41 running on the rollers 48 and 49. This conveyor section 41 together with the upwardly inclined end of the conveyor 42 cooperates to feed the web of straw between them to the first pair of breaker rolls 5!! of the unit D. I

The first decorticating unit D comprises a vertical series of alternating pairs of breaker rolls 5i) and squared beater members 52 which I the bearing plates 53 adjustably secured, as by means of the fastening elements 56, to the inner faces of the two side memof the main supporting frame 55. The shafts of the driven breaker rolls are pro-' vided with pulleys which are adapted to be driven by means of belts or chains from a suitable such that successive rollers are driven at somewhat higher speeds than the preceding ones. driving connections for these rolls will be described hereinafter.

Each of the breaker rolls 50 is fluted as clearly indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings and the flutes of the rolls of each pair are in mesh so that when the web we of straw or fiber passes therethrough the shive 'or woody core'is broken into fine pieces by the alternate bending of the flattened stalks. Any non-fibrous weeds or other extraneous matter are also broken-up and eliminated from the web of fiber in this way. The meshing of the rolls is not close enough to break the fiber and the rearwardly disposed rolls of each pair are resiliently pressed into driving contact with the corresronding driven roll as by means of the adjustable bearings shown very clearly in Figures 3 and I of the drawings. The trunnions St on opposite ends of the rolls 5d are carried in slidable bearing blocks 6| which may be guided as by means of the flanges 62 formed on the side frame members 56 and 51. The plate or fiange be is secured to each of the side members 56 and 51 and is provided with openings adapted to receive the bolts 65 which are threaded as at $6 into the ends ofthe movable bearing blocks. Between the plates 64 and the ends of the block 6! there are disposed the springs 88 which are adapted ,to press the blocks forwardly and thus urge the movable members of the pairs of the web Hill as it passes between the flutes of the two rolls. The clearance between the flutes of the cooperating rolls 5t may be adjusted by rotation of the bolts t5 as by means of a suitable tool applied to the heads 61.

The beater members 52 are arranged-in pairs disposed immediately after the respective pairs of breaker rolls 50. These rotary beater members are preferably squa e in .cross section and serve to apply a mild beating and shaking action to the web of fiber Hi0 so as 'to more effectively rid the web of the particles of shive broken and loosened-by. the brzeaker are presinstallation breaker rolls 50 into contact with provided with trunnions or axle shafts 10 which are journalled in the plates 53 adjustably secured to the side frame members 56 and 51. The forward members 52 of each pair are provided with sprockets or pulleys 12 from which they may be driven by suitable transmissions which will be later described. The trunnions 10 at the opposite ends of these members 52 are provided with intermeshing pinlons 13 and 15 whereby the-rear member may be driven by the forward member of each pair. The heater rolls or rotary elements 52 should be rotated at a much more rapid rate than the breaker rolls 50. In practice it has been demonstrated that these rolls may be run from six to ten times as fast as the average speed of the breaker rolls of each unit.

Both the breaker rolls and the heaters are of relatively small diameter, say from to 2 inches, very superior results having been obtained with rolls 1% inches in diameter.

At this point it may be well to explain and emphasize the beneficial effects of the cooperation of these two types of rolls upon the web of straw and fiber. Fluted or grooved rolls are the most efiicient devices for bending the straw and breaking the shive in a continuous manner. There is no lost motion as would be the case in the use of reciprocating mechanisms and consequently the apparatus can be run at very high speeds. For most effective operation the flutes or grooves in the successive rolls must vary in size and depth, becoming finer as the lap of fiber passes through the machine so as to remove the finest particles of shive from the fiber and also a largeproportion of the gum. It has not been found possible to remove all of the shive with breaker rolls alone, such devices being capable at best of eliminating only about 90% of the shive and extraneous matter. Furthermore, in employing these rolls alone, the

fiber tends to cling or wound about them during operation, the case of slatted beating and scraping drums which have been tried in some devices. Some means must be provided to dot! the fiber and prevent it being wound about the roll. Also, if the breaker rolls employed are of a large diameter, the gap between the bite of one pair oi these rolls and that o the succeeding pair is too great and the fiber -lap will not jump the and doffing means the rolls diameter inthe present invention, and the gaps between the engaging or cooperating fiutes'of adjacent pairs of rolls are smaller and, furthermore, the rotating heaters of the type employed herein serve to carry the fiber across the gap and at the same time perform several other important operations upon the lap of fiber. These heaters which are preferably of the square type indicated, not only act as dofiers, but by their gentle heating or stroking action serve to straighten the straw and fibers and keep them parallel to the direction of movement of the lap. They also act as mild scutching devices to gently beat and rub the lap to remove the shive, which has been loosened and broken by the breaker rolls; they act as vibrators and shakers to further eliminate the particles of'sh vc and gum from the rapidly moving lap of fiber; and they also act as opening and softening devices to loosen and separate the web and maintain it in a somewhat flufly condition. The form of these beaters is or the utmost importance. 'Ihe square cross section is preferred and the comparatively blunt comers or edges of these members must be perfectly smooth. Any paddle type oi beaters up as well as tear and break the individual fibers. The beating or scutching action must be very gentle and preferably repeated ma times. For example, there have been employed a practical machineas many as twenty to twenty-tour sets of breaking and beating'rolls.

Another important feature of the present arrangement is the vertically upward travel of the lap of straw and fiber through these decorticating and degumrning units. Obviously, the rotation of the operating rolls must be such that the his shive may be utilized in numerous ways.

be mentioned the a base for cattle plastics.

. operating rolls and serve to draw out or attenuate the lap of fiber. It will be noted from subsequent descriptions that there are provided throughout the present apparatus several devices for effecting this attenuation of the lap at various points during the operation 01' the machine.

fiber lap moves at a considerably faster rate at the-delivery endof the machine than at thebeginning. For example, in one practical embodi-' ment of the device the mass 01' straw is fed into livered from the final minute.

From the unit D the forexample, the belt conveyor 90. In Figure 7 cases a cooperat is' provided as ines 1 and 2 of the drawings, the

ing belt conveyor element 04 dicated in Fleur as it is' can'ied from double belt conveyor sirable drawing or attenuating action on the lap at this-point by running the conveyor .veyor 97.

By this means the web of partly cleaned fiber is delivered by suitable conveying means as,

' upon the intermediate portion at a speed greater than that of the preceding operating members.

In places of arid climate, or in fact in localities where a moderate humidity prevails, the lap of fiber may be carried directly from the decortieating unit D to the subsequent decorticatin-g and degumming units F and G without any intermediate treatment. in excessively humid districts it is preferred to interpose suitable drying means such as indicated at E immediately beyond the first decorticating unitD. Such a drier serves to enibrittle the gummy and waxy material remaining in the fiber after the first treatment and greatly facilitate its removal in the units F and G. The drier E is in the form of an oven or other enclosure 96 which may beheated by steam, electricity or by other suitable means. The lap of fiber I is fed from the de livery end of theconveyor belt 90 onto the first conveyor 97 of a series of conveyors disposed in somewhat zig-zag relation in the dried casing 96. From the first conveyor 91 the lap is delivered upon the projecting end of the second conveyor 98 and is carried in the opposite direction until it is. aindelivered upon a succeeding conveyor 99 running in the same direction as the first connately oppositely moving conveyors may be employed, the last conveyor delivering the lap to a belt conveyor I02 with which the auxiliary belt 003 cooperates to feed the lap of fiber into the what finer flutes and all of the rotating elements are operated at a greater speed than in the preceding unit. Also, the unit F need not be provided with delivering drawing rolls such as shown at 05 in the unit D. immediately after it has passed the last beaters 52 by the forward ends of the cooperating belt conveyors I04 and I05 as they pass around the rollers or pulleys I06. i

In transferring the lap of fiber I00 from the unit Fto the unit G the conveyors I04 and I05 are arranged in a somewhat Z-shaped configuration and cooperate throughout substantially their entire length to control the passage of the web of fiber between the units. The delivery ends of the conveyors I04, I05 are the flrst'breaker rolls 50 of the unit G and from there the fiber passes through i the successive breakers and beaters 50 and 52 of the unit G. From this unit the lap is carried by the forward end I09 01' the rather complex belt conveyor IIO. Cooperating with this forward portion I09 is the auxiliary belt III. Adjacent the intermediate D0l1ii0n of the conveyor IIO there are provided ing member II! comprising the folding device H by which the side edges of the lap are turned over and thus reduce tlie total width thereof.

The final folding and comprises essentially the Any suitable number of these alterbut the lap I00 may be seized immediately beneath apparent.

I22 carried by the arcuate lower frame portion I23 of the swinging member H4. The operation of this folding and packing device will be readily The longitudinally folded web or lap I is carried downwardly between the conveyor portions H6 and H1 and due to the swinging of the frame II4 the web is delivered into the chute I20 in a laterally folded condition, each successive fold I25 being pressed into the chute by the action of the rollers I22 as they oscillate across the mouth I2I of the chute. In starting the lap of fiber into the chute it is necessary to employ a plug I26 which may comprise a compressible cushion which is inserted in the mouth of the chute to receive the folded layers of fiber upon it. By means of this folding and packing device a very great pressure may be applied tothe fiber and it may be compressed in the chute or other receptacle as effectively as in a conventional type of baling press. The folded and compressed web of clean fiber may be delivered through the chute I20 to any desired destination.-

A driving system for the machine which has been described is illustrated in Figures 1 and-4 of the drawings. The prime movermay be the motor indicated at I50 and. is adapted to drive the belt or sprocket chain II which passes around a large pulley I52 carried upon the countershaft I55 of the first unit D. The unit F is provided'with a countershaft I55 and the unit G has a corresponding shaft I55, a chain I58 connects the pulleys carried by the shafts I541 and I55, and a chain I59 extends from suitable pulleys on the shafts I55 and I56 whereby the driving force is transmitted successively from one unit to the others. The diameters of the pulleys are suitably chosen so as to drive the shafts I55 and I55 successively faster than the preceding shafts. Another chain I50 operatively connects a sprocket ItI carried by the countershaft I5t with a pulley or sprocket I62 carried by the shaft I53 which provides an axle for one of the initial crusher rolls t0, the drive being transmitted to the other crusher rolls through pinions I65 and I66 between which an idler gear I51 operates.

Carried by the countershaft I55 upon opposite sides of the unit D are the two sprockets I and HI from which chains I12 and I13 are respectively driven. Upon the trunnioned ends of the alternate driven breaker rolls 50 and upon one end of the drawing rolls 85 there are provided sprockets I15, I15, I11 and I19 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. The sprocket chain I is passed around an idler I00, then around the two sprockets I15 and I15, then around another idler IN and finally around the two sprockets I11 and. I18 from whence the chain sprocket Hi. The sprockets I15, I16, I11 and I18 are of successively diminishing diameters so that each succeeding roll driven thereby is rotated at a slightly faster speed than those preceding it. Upon the remote side of the unit D as viewed in Figure 3 the inreturns to the driving tervening breaker rolls 50 are provided with similar sprockets I05, I04 and I85 about which the driving chain I12 is trained. An idler I86 is interposed in order to ensure the constant mesh ing of the chain with the roll driving sprockets. The sprockets I89, I05 and I95 are also of diminishing diameters as in the case "of the ones previously described.

The transmission for driving the beater rolls 52 will now be described. 'A sprocket I90.carried by the countershaft I50 drives a chain 'I9I which is passed around the sprocket I92 carried by the short shaft I93 which is carried by the bracket combine which has mowed ground. The vehicle I94 secured to the frame 30. A bevel gear I96 secured to the shaft I93 meshes with a corresponding bevel gear I91 carried by the vertically disposed shaft I98 which is provided with suitable bearings supported, for example, by means of the bracket I99. At suitably spaced intervals along the shaft I98 corresponding to the spacing of the beater rolls 52 are secured the pulleys 200 about which are trained the endless belts I which are also passed around the pulleys 12 carried by the forwardly disposed beater rolls 52 of each pair. These forward rolls driven by the means just described also serve to drive the rearwardly disposed heaters through the gearing 13, 14, to which reference has alreadybeen made. As mentioned heretofore,

the beater rolls are preferably driven from about six to ten times faster than the average speed of the breaker rolls in the unit D. All of the beater rolls may be driven at the same speed, or by suitably graduating the pulleys 200 they may be driven at different speeds.

As a means for driving the conveyor belts 32 and 42 the following mechanism may be employed. A pulley 203 is mounted upon the end of the countershaft I54 and a belt 204 operatively connects the pulley 203 with a pulley 205 so as to drive it in the opposite direction. The pulley 205 is mounted upon a shaft 206 which serves as an axle for the driven roller 44 about'which the conveyor 42 is passed. Another sprocket 200 is carried by the shaft 206 and serves to drive a chain 209 which is passed around a sprocket 2I0 carried by the shaft 2I I which forms the axle of the roller 39 carrying the belt conveyor 32.

From thecountershaft I55 of the unit F a sprocket chain 260 serves to drive the beater'rolls of this unit through mechanism exactly similar to that described in Similarly the two chains 212 and 213 drive the alternate breaker rolls of this unit and corresponding driving chains are employed to actuate the belt conveyors. In the same way the chains 550, 312 and 313 serve to drive the corresponding devices associated with the final unit G.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawingsthere is disclosed a vehicle upon which is mounted an installation corresponding to the operating units D, E and F ofthe permanent installation and designated by the reference characters D, E and F in these illustrations. The vehicle designated by the reference character H5 is preferably enclosed and provided. with pneumatic ground wheels 2I0 carrying balloon tires of considerable diameter to prevent breakage of the straw lying upon the field which the machine is adapted to traverse, and also to prevent jolting or vibration of the apparatus due to the uneven surface of the ground. Ordinarily, in the use of this portable unit, the device will have been preceded by a thresher or and threshed the flax and deposited the straw in windrows along the H5 which may be provided with any suitable tractor hitch whereby it may be propelled across the field is designed to collect the straw and feed it through the decorticating and degumming apparatus. For this purpose a conveyor 220 projects from the forward end of the unit and is adapted to collect the straw by means of the short prongs or tines 22I provided on each of the slats 222 which are carried by the belts 220passed around the rollers or pulleys 224 and 225, the latter being driven by means of a sprocket 22G associated with the subsequent driven conveyor means.

connection with the unit D.

However, certain slight Since most of the mechanism in the portable unit is the exact counterpart of corresponding devices in the stationary installation, they will not are exactly the same as the conveyors Mill and its and will be given the designations st and t6 although they difler slightly from the conveyors having the corresponding designations in the devices first described. The shive particles eliminated in the first unit D may be collected in the trough 8t and delivered through the side of the vehicle into bags or other receptacles either carried by the vehicle 2! 5 or by an attendant walking along the side thereof. The lap is adapted to be delivered by any suitable type of conveyor i it? into a receptacle its and removed at suitable intervals from the vehicle. For the purpose of driving the devices carried by the vehicle did an internal combustion engine may be employed as s gested at lbs.

The lap of fiber which is passed through the chute i2i or collected in the receptacle M9 is practically free of shive and sumciently free of gummy matter for many purposes including that of paper manufacture. Also in the case of the preparation of the fiber for this purpose the stalks need not be perfectly aligned as they are r 1' through the machine but may be operated upon as a more or less tangled or matted web of straw.

However, for textile purposes the stalks should be introduced into the devices in an approximately longitudinally aligned position. Also, for teitile purposes the cleaned fiber web obtained from the machine forming the subject of the present inthrough certain subsequent vention may be put processes including a wet extraction phase for eliminating more 01' the gums from which these by-products may be recovered for certain industrial uses. The fiber may also be drawn, flufied out, carded, or otherwise treated depending upon the specific purpose for which it is to be used.

As employed herein, the term threshing m y include any preliminary treatment of the plant whereby the seeds, seed bolls, top branches, etc. are removed and the straw or stalks thus prepared for decortication.

It will be. understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the devices illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

rolls 01' each pair being to prevent, pinching oi sage therethrough.

1. A decorticating device for the liberation of fiber from best fiber yielding straw comprising a series 01' alternate pairs of fluted breaker rolls and square beater rolls, between the members of each pair or which a web of strawis madetopasa'said' beater rolls having plane surfaces, and the beater spaced apart sumciently the straw during its pas- 2. In a fiber liberating device oi the class def racing the ends of scribed, in combination, a pair of intermeshed fluted rolls disposed with sufiicient clearance to permit the go of a lap of fiber yielding straw between them, a pair of rotary members disposed closely adjacent said fluted rolls and adapted to receive between them the lap oi straw passing from said fluted rolls, said rotary members being square in cross section and of small diameter, and means for rotating said fluted rolls in opposite directions compatible with the passage of the lap of straw therebetween and means for rotating said rotary members in corresponding directions at a speed greater than that of said rolls.

3. In a fiber liberating device of the class described, in combination, a plurality of superposed pairs of intermeshed fluted rolls, each pair disd in a horizontal plane with sumcient clearance between the members thereof to permit the passage of an upwardly moving lap of fiber yielding straw, a plurality of pairs of rotary beater members alternating with said fluted rolls and pted-to receive between the members oi each pair the lap of straw, said rotary members being square in cross section and adapted to operate upon the lap to apply a gentle beating and shaking action thereto in order to eliminate the shive through comprising, incombination, a supporting floor, a supporting frame, a pair of fluted intermeshing crusher rolls between which the stalks of said plants are fed in overlapping relation, a conveyor for continuously feeding said stalks to said rolls, one or more vertically disposed series of alternating pars of bending and beating i fiber from fiber yieldingoplants mssed thererolls, andmeans for transferring the web or lap of crushed stalks from said crusher. rolls and feeding it vertically upwardly between the rolls of each pair in said series to eiIect the decorticating and d of the fiber.

6. In a fiber liberating apparatus of the classdescribed, in combination, conveying mechanisms for moving fiber yielding plant stalks continuously in the same general direction throughout the apparatus, a device for continuously treat-' ing said stalks while they are disposed transversely to their direction of movement, a device for subsequently treating said stalks while disposed longitudinally of said same direction of movement, and a reorienting conveyor between said devices, for turning said stalks without affecting their general advance in said direction through said apparatus, said conveyor comprising a pair of cooperating at planes transversely to the plane or movement '01" the oncoming stalks, the greater portion of said conveyor beingdisposed in the direction of continuous forwardmovement of the stalks, the c operating belts at the receiving end of the conveyor being passed around pulleys so as to dispose the opening between saidbelts adjacent to and s the oncoming stalks so as to seize them. tudinal direction,

and forward themthus aligned to the second travelling belts disposed immediately'turn' them in a longi- 

